Anime like Glass no Usagi

Hotaru no Haka

Also known as Grave of the Fireflies.

Studio: Studio Ghibli , Sentai Filmworks
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

In the aftermath of a World War II bombing, two orphaned children struggle to survive in the Japanese countryside. To Seita and his four-year-old sister, the helplessness and indifference of their countrymen is even more painful than the enemy raids. Through desperation, hunger and grief, these children's lives are as heartbreakingly fragile as their spirit and love is inspiring.



Tags: Tragedy , Survival , Orphan , War , Family Life , Historical , Primarily Child Cast , Rural , Military , Homeless , Female Protagonist , Autobiographical , Male Protagonist , Educational

Momoko, Kaeru no Uta ga Kikoeru yo

Also known as My Sister Momoko.

Studio: Magic Bus
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Momoko, who attends a special school, is both mentally and physically disabled. Every morning she becomes peevish because she can't go to the ordinary school with her twin brother Riki. Her family soothes Momoko by singing her favourite song "The Song of Frogs".



Tags: Disability , Male Protagonist , Primarily Child Cast , Female Protagonist , Twins , School , Kuudere , Bullying , Family Life , Athletics , Kids , Tragedy , Educational

Ushiro no Shoumen Daare

Also known as Who's Left Behind?.

Studio: Mushi Production
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Kayoko is a young girl in 1940, just starting first grade. She's a bit of a crybaby, which is no secret to those around her. She loves playing with friends and singing cute schoolyard chants, and occasionally having fun with her three older brothers. Her mother is pregnant, and so she looks forward to being a big sister, only partially understanding the responsibility that might bring. Meanwhile, the war effort is growing, and it`s only the natural thing to do to be patriotic and support the country...

Kayoko goes so far as to contribute her favorite dolly, whose materials could help build explosives. Time passes, and as she grows older, Kayoko sees how the war has affected her life and those around her. Nothing can prepare her for 1945, however, and the bleak times that are soon to come. Based on original creator Kayoko Ebina's real life experience during World War 2 on Showa era.



Tags: Historical , Female Protagonist , War , Autobiographical , Tragedy , Family Life , Coming of Age , Survival , Time Skip

Hi no Ame ga Furu

Studio: Mushi Production
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

An anti-war anime based on a book containing contemporary accounts of the fire-bombing of the city of Fukuoka on the evening of June 19, 1945.

Tags: Historical , War

Happy Birthday, Inochi Kagayaku Toki

Studio: Magic Bus
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

After being abused by her mother physically and mentally Asuka gets taken in by her grandparents. Slowly she learns her own worth as a human being and overcomes many obstacles.

Tags: Bullying , School , Disability , Tragedy , Kids , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Primarily Child Cast , Educational , Iyashikei

Romeo no Aoi Sora

Also known as Romeo and the Black Brothers.

Studio: Nippon Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Slice of Life

Romeo, a young boy living in the Alps of Italian Switzerland, signs a contract with a shady individual to pay for his sick father's doctor, who will take him across the mountains to Italy, to Milan, where he will be sold as a chimney sweep's helper. Thus begins Romeo's journey, amidst abuse and violence, during which he will form lasting and deep bonds with other child chimney sweeps, coming to form a fraternity called "The Black Brothers," who will all learn to help each other in times of need.

Tags: Primarily Child Cast , Historical , Tragedy , Kids , Male Protagonist , Foreign , Class Struggle , Urban , Philosophy , Work , Coming of Age , Classic Literature , Bullying , Survival , Primarily Male Cast , Gangs , Slavery , Fugitive , Tomboy , Adoption

O-Hoshisama no Rail

Also known as Rail of the Star: A True Story of Children.

Studio: MADHOUSE , ADV Films , Shanghai Animation Film Studio
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

A young Japanese actress remembers her war childhood in Korea. Her father goes to fight, her baby sister Miko dies of typhoid, her beloved Korean maid Ohana is fired due to a mistake which could cost Chiko her life... By and by Chiko realizes that the country is being ruled by the Japanese and the Koreans are persecuted. When the war ends, the Koreans chase the Japanese rule and the roles change. Now Chiko's family is unwanted. But then the Russians come and this is the end. They have to burn all the pictures to avoid all suspicions... even Miko's picture. But when the Russians come to their house, they decide to flee over the 38th Parallel towards freedom. A group of men, women, children struggles along the mountains, led by the light of the North Star. Along the way they meet a Korean man, who is willing to help them to escape the Russian soldiers although his family was killed by the Japanese.



Tags: Tragedy , War , Historical , Autobiographical , Foreign , Fugitive , Language Barrier , Family Life

Dai-chan, Daisuki.

Studio: Tama Production , TOKYO MX
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Main character in this film, Mai, has a handicapped brother, who is totally deaf, called Dai-Chan. He is like a younger brother for Mai yet he is actually her older brother because Dai-Chan always asks Mai to hold him up with smiling all over.

One day, an elementary school Mai goes to and a handicapped school Dai-Chan goes to start to communicate each other. And then, Mai's class mates started to make fun of Mai and draw a funny portrait of Dai-Chan on black board in the class. Mai gets shocked and hurt at that mischief. And moreover, their mother gets sickness at the same time. That's why Dai-Chan should enter in an orphanage for handicapped children; however, Mai really wants to take care of him by herself, so she tries to stop it.

This story is written about a love of family, close bond, and relationship between human and human. We definitely have a common warm heart and a moment we have to use it with honest feeling. This film could remind us some important things we should never forget about our life.



Tags: School , Disability , Language Barrier

NAGASAKI 1945: Angelus no Kane

Studio: Mushi Production
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

August 1945. In a converted theological seminary on the outskirts of Nagasaki, a young doctor works to help his patients, as unsettling news comes of a new weapon used by the Americans on the city of Hiroshima. When the second nuclear weapon is dropped on Nagasaki, the hospital staff must work to save lives in the midst of the concentric circles of death that their city has become.

Tags: Medicine , Historical , Non-fiction , Tragedy , Military , Environmental , War , Male Protagonist